CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA
SCHUTZHUND CLUB
SPRING TRIAL
By Georgana Wilpizeski

Despite a last minute venue change, a festival atmosphere prevailed at the Central Pennsylvania Spring Trial. 

What home field advantage?  Three days prior to the trial, we found out that our club field was unavailable.  Club President and Training Director, Lora Heldreth, affectionately known as Fraulein Director, was able to secure a large soccer field which was tucked into a bend on a stocked trout stream.

Nervous trial teams began showing up on Thursday evening to scout the area.  Some of us crossed over into numbness as fishermen waving poles and wearing waders (looks a lot like a bite suit to me) climbed up the creek banks and lumbered onto the field.

Oh well, nothing to do but go on.  And go on we did!  On Friday, we moved bleachers and goal posts, and ran poles with bright pink tape for crowd control.  Tried three different positions for jumps and set the blinds two different ways until we decided on the right spots.

On Saturday morning, it looked like a festival had set up overnight.  Over 50 spectators and participants turned out for the show.  There was a travel trailer, complete with a large awning.  Tables covered with colorful cloths were laden with varieties of breakfast foods and drinks.  A large gas grill was standing by, ready for lunch, and the trophy table gleamed in the first rays of sunlight in three days.

Our wonderful judge, Carla Griffith, calmly and competently took charge of the process and herded the entries right along.  Knowledgeable, objective judging lightened with encouragement and humor made an indelible impression on all the competitors and spectators.

First up on the tracking field was JD Reed and Azor.  The onlookers gave a cheer when the result of the schutzhund I track was announced.  Next up was the day’s youngest handler, 14 year old Matt Heldreth with his Schutzhund II entry, Quendi Vom Olympus.

Again, success and cheers.  Each team that followed passed their tracking test with James Rokowski and Tsars Festkorper Ausdruck earning high tracking score of 91 points on their Schutzhund III track.

After a quick break at the trial field, first flight of BH was called.  I was first up for obedience and had a bad case of BH handler nerves, but as soon as I removed the leash, my 17 month old, Hammer, took over and led me smartly through the rest of the exercises.  After a brief nap on the long down, Kris Tsenoff’s Rottweiler, Sammy, gathered the energy to nicely complete the obedience portion.  Crisp obedience routines were turned in by Chris Gault with her Axel, and Tom Reed with Breeze.  The absolute highlight of the BH showing was Angela Cribari and her young Doberman, Fungi.

Judge Griffith had to repeatedly remind Angie to breathe and those of us with CPR skills kept a watchful eye out in case of fainting or heart failure.  Fungi is the first dog Angela has ever trained, and the team has only been at it 7 months.  And they say it can’t be done!

A tied obedience score between Revel Weidman with Vador von Ausdruck and Ken Heaton with OthelloVom wilden Westen, was broken by the higher protection score turned in by Revel and Vador.  It was a close contest, but Revel went home with the trophy!

We wrapped up the competition in good spirits when everyone cashed in their long hours of training for the final payoff in the protection phase. All entries passed protection, and James Rokowski with Tsar von Ausdruck earned high score of 93.

Everyone appreciated having the scoreboard updated during the day by club member Michelle Mingarell.  And as the crowd gathered around the scoreboard for final results, we found that Central Pennsylvania’s own James Rokowski with Tsar earned the honor of High in Trial.

We are all very proud of our two club members who achieved their Schutzhund III titles.
Revel Weidman and Vador von Ausdruck and James Rokowski with Tsars Festkorper Ausdruck. Way to go teams!!!!

Thanks go out to our young and very talented club and trial helper, Daniel Heldreth.
Daniel also served as a track layer with Marc Patton, who layed straight and true Schutzhund III tracks
.
Also, many thanks to all who donated time, money, food, equipment and photography services.
It all came together as a great day to remember. 
A splendid time was had by all.